Textile machine and method of processing threads

ABSTRACT

A thread is wound onto a carrier which is mounted on a rotatable support, until a package of predetermined size is formed on the carrier. Thereupon a plurality of terminal convolutions of the thread are taken about the rotatable support before the carrier with the package is removed from the support and the thread severed intermediate the carrier and the terminal convolutions. A new carrier is now mounted on the support and thread is again wound on the new carrier to form a package thereon; as the formation of the package on the new carrier proceeds the terminal convolutions are concomitantly abraded during rotation of the new carrier until they are worn through and separate from the support before the new package is completed and new terminal thread convolutions are taken about the support. An apparatus for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

United States Patent [21] Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] TEXTILE MACHINE AND METHOD OF PROCESSING THREADS 16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 57/34 '11, 57/34.5 [51] 1nt.Cl D0lh 9/16 [50] Field of Search 57/34, 34 TI", 34.5, 54, 56, 156; 242/18 EW, 18 PW, 18 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,312,051 4/1967 Schumann et a1. 57/34.5

Primary Examiner-Stan1ey N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner-Wemer H. Schroeder Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A thread is wound onto a carrier which is mounted on a rotatable support, until a package of predetermined size is formed on the carrier. Thereupon a plurality of terminal convolutions of the thread are taken about the rotatable support before the carrier with the package is removed from the support and the thread severed intermediate the carrier and the terminal convolutions. A new car rier is now mounted on the support and thread is again wound on the new carrier to form a package thereon; as the formation of the package on the new carrier proceeds the tenninal convolutions are concomitantly abraded during rotation of the new carrier until they are worn through and separate from the support before the new package is completed and new terminal thread convolutions are taken about the support. An apparatus for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

PATENIEU JAN 4 I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 44!!! 206704: 1- Gen 0M; 7801/06784/1/ TEXTILE MACHINE AND METHOD OF PROCESSING THREADS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the processing of threads, and more particularly to an improved method relating to such processing, and to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

In textile machines of different types so-called spindles are employed, elements which are elongated and rotate about their longitudinal axes and which carry for joint rotation socalled carriers, such as bobbin tubes and the like, onto which thread is wound in response to rotation of the respective textile spindle to form on the carrier a package. Bobbin tubes or carriers are known in many different types, for instance conical sleeves, spools and the like, and it is known to form on them packages of many different types of threads. The expression thread means any types of textile strands, such as yarns of cotton, wool or the like, synthetic yarns or threads, twisted yarns or threads and the like.

When a package of thread has been completely wound on a carrier, the latter together with the package must of course be removed to make way for a new carrier onto which a new package is to be wound. There are in textile machines of the type in question virtually hundreds of such spindles with associated carriers in use at one and the same time. It is therefore neither practical nor economical to have to manually fasten each thread to a new carrier on which a package is to be formed. For this reason it is not simply possible to sever the thread when the winding of a package is completed, and thereupon to remove the completed package with its carrier, because the thread would then have to be manually attached to the new carrier. For this reason it is known to take, when a package is completely wound, several turns or convolutions of the thread around an annular surface portion of the support or spindle on which the carrier is mounted for rotation. Only now is the completed package with its carrier removed from the spindle and the thread is severed intermediate the package and the terminal turns taken about the spindle, usually simply as a result of withdrawal of the completed package and carrier from the spindle which causes the thread to break in the desired region. It is clear that the leading or downstream end of the thread coming from a thread supply remains attached to the spindle by virtue of the fact that several convolutions have been taken about the spindle. It is then simply necessary to place a new carrier on the spindle and to start the spindle rotating, whereupon thread begins to be wound onto the new carrier, forming a new passage thereon in response to rotation of the spindle.

Of course, with completion of each package several new terminal convolutions of thread must be taken about the support or spindle, and these terminal convolutions accummulate thereon and must be manually removed from time to time because otherwise they can cause difficulties in the operation of the device.

It is this removal, which heretofore had always to be executed manually, which is found to be highly disadvantageous because it is time consuming and quite difficult. For this reason industry has long sought to provide an improved approach to the removal of these terminal portions, but heretofore no such approach has become known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide such an improved approach.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of removing terminal convolutions from the spindles of a textile machine on which thread is wound onto a carrier.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide such an improved method which obviates the need for manual removal of the terminal convolutions, and which can be utilized without having to interrupt or in any way disturb the normal operation of the spindles.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such a method which avoids the accumulation of large quantities of terminal convolutions, and the consequent formation of clumps of thread convolutions, on the spindle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out the novel method.

In pursuance of the above object, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the present invention resides in a method or processing thread, which method comprises, briefly stated, the first step of winding thread onto a carrier mounted on a rotatable support until a package of predetermined size is formed on the carrier. The second step involves winding a plurality of terminal convolutions of the thread onto the rotatable support and thereupon following the third step requires removal of the carrier and package from the support and severing of the thread intermediate the package and the terminal convolutions. The fourth step resides in the mounting of a carrier on the support and thereupon the first step is repeated while the terminal convolutions on the support are concomitantly abraded during rotation of the support until they are worn through and separated from the support prior to repetition of the second step.

The degree of abrasion exerted upon the thread terminal convolutions may be very slight as seen per unit of time because the complete winding of a new package usually requires a period of several hours, which time is of course available for the gradual abrading of the terminal convolutions on the support or spindle as the support will hereafter be called. In fact, it is desirable but not absolutely necessary that the abrading of the terminal convolutions be completed before new terminal convolutions are added. The number of terminal convolutions which is taken about the spindle each time a package is completed is quite small so that their accumula tion is not actually objectionable until several instances of addition of terminal convolutions have occurred. Only then will the increasing diameter of the spindle-at the location where the terminal convolutions accummulate-become bothersome. It is therefore sufficient in many instances if, in accordance with a further feature of the'present invention, the arrangement is such that terminal convolutions are abraded and removed only when the diameter of the accumulating terminal convolutions on the spindle exceeds a predetermined value, so that terminal convolutions are added in excess of this value become abraded and removed whereas terminal convolutions increasing the diameter of the spindle up to this value are allowed to remain on the spindle.

According to a further concept of the invention it is advantageous that the spindle not only rotate but also perform other movements, for instance oscillatory movements, to thereby increase the abrading effect.

The present invention can be carried into effect with simple, inexpensive and operationally highly reliable means. In fact, an apparatus according to the present invention has not only all of these characteristics, but as a concomitant characteristic, it requires little or no maintenance and supervision. Thus, in accordance with one feature of the invention, a textile machine provided with an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention may have at least one spindle comprising a stationary first portion and a second portion which is rotatable with reference to the first portion and is adapted to support a package carrier. Winding means is provided for winding a thread onto the carrier to form thereon a package of desired size, and for thereupon winding a plurality of terminal convolutions onto the second portion prior to removal of the carrier and package therefrom and severing of the thread intermediate the package and the terminal convolutions. Finally, abrading means is provided for abrading and wearing through the terminal convolutions for removal of the same, in response to rotation of the second portion during winding of thread onto a new package carrier.

The simplest embodiment of the abrading means may be in form of an abrading element having a plate-shaped configuration and having an edge portion which serves as the abrading surface. The abrading surface is advantageously smooth because the abrading effect for a given time period need only be small, as mentioned before. It is an obvious advantage of a smooth abrading surface that no thread portions can accumulate and be retained by the abrading surface, and that the latter cannot hinder the rotation of the spindle.

It may be advantageous in many instances to so mount the abrading element that it is elastically or yieldably supported so that it can yield to forces exerted upon it, for instance by the terminal convolutions. It is possible, however, to also mount the abrading element in such a manner that it does not yield.

The most advantageous distances of the abrading surface from the juxtaposed surface of the spindle can readily be determined empirically by those skilled in the art. Evidently, the distance can be made adjustable if desired. One consideration to be taken into account in determining this distance is of course whether it is desired to remove the terminal convolutions entirely before the next package is completed and new terminal convolutions are taken about the spindle, or whether several sets of terminal convolutions are to be allowed to accumulate on the spindle before the abrading effect is either completed or, also conceivably, before it is begun. The consideration behind the latter possibility has already been outlined earlier. It is possible, for instance, to have the spacing between the spindle surface and the juxtaposed abrading surface of the abrading element be on the order of 0.1-0.3 mm., but larger or smaller spacing is possible and may be advantageous in given circumstances, so that the concept of the invention is not to be considered limited to any particular spacing.

The abrading surface may be a blunt edge, but it may also be a sharp knife edge like surface, and while it is advantageous that it be smooth it is also possible to have it provided in form of a different configuration. The abrading surface may also be straight or otherwise configurated.

Similarly, the surface portion on the spindle onto which the terminal convolutions are wound may also have any other advantageous configuration. It is preferred but by no means exclusive under the terms of the present invention that the surface portion be an annular surface portion which is concave in direction lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the spindle and concentric with this axis So configurated the surface portion in question has the advantage that the terminal convolutions will tend to accumulate first at the innermost or deepest point of the concavity, where they can be abraded in the most simple and easiest manner. In fact, with this construction the abrading element must necessarily extend into the concavity and thus performs the dual function of not only abrading the terminal thread convolutions but also preventing undesired withdrawal of the rotatable second portion of the spindle from the stationary first portion thereof, thereby eliminating the heretofore necessary separate detent arrangements.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional ob jects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a fragmentary side view in elevation of an apparatus according to the present invention in one embodimerit;

FIG. 2 is a view of FIG. 1 as seen in the direction of the arrow A of the former Figure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinally sectioned detail view of a further embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partially sectioned side view of still another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top-plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail it is firstly emphasized that like reference numerals identify like elements throughout the various Figures.

A first embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Reference numeral 9 in these Figures identifies a rotatable textile spindle which may be of any of the many well-known constructions, except for the novel configuration of the portion 16 which is still to be discussed. The spindle 9 comprises a stationary first portion 11 which is mounted on a spindle support 10, and a rotatable second portion which is turnably journaled in the portion 12 of the first portion 11. The first portion 11 is provided with a flange 14 which abuts the spindle support 10, and a nut 14' is threaded onto a screw thread of the portion 12 and thus holds the portion 11 on the support 10.

The portion 13 is provided with a shaft 17, a whirl 18, a surface portion 16 for the terminal convolutions, an annular shoulder 19 to prevent shifting of the thread section 20 located between the surface portion 16 and the package 23 while the package carrier 22 is withdrawn from the portion 13, and a conical shaft portion 21 onto which the package carrier 22 is placed so that the thread 24 can be wound onto the carrier 22 and form thereon a package 23.

The thread 24 is supplied by a suitable thread supply which is not illustrated but which forms no part of the invention. It is wound onto the carrier 22 to form the package 23 thereon in response to rotation of the spindle portion 13, with the drive means for the latter constituting the winding means effecting the winding. When the package 23 is completely wound, several turns of the thread 24 are taken about the surface portion 16 to form the terminal convolutions thereon. When now the carrier 22 with the package 23 is withdrawn from the spin dle portion 13, the thread portion 20 is torn. A new empty car rier 22 is now placed onto the portion 13 and the portion of the thread 24 which extends intermediate the thread supply and the terminal convolutions on the surface portion 16 contacts-or is made to contactthe carrier 22 so that, when the latter is rotated with the spindle portion 13, a new package is being formed without requiring the manual connecting of the thread 24 with the new carrier 22. This connecting of the thread 24 with the carrier 22 without manual aid is already known and forms no part of the invention.

At this time a thread portion 24' remains on the surface portion 16 and forms thereon the aforementioned terminal convolutions, of which there are several. While now a new package 23 is being wound, the terminal convolutions on the surface portion 16 are abraded by the abrading means 25 and, when they become severed, they fall off the surface portion 16. The abrading means 25 is a device which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a carrier 37 which is threadedly or otherwise secured to the flange l4 and which is of U'shaped cross-sectional configuration. From its base upwardly it converges and has an upper portion 26 which is narrow and configurated at its upper end as a bifurcated section 27 in which there is mounted a pin 28 which serves for tiltably mounting a plate-shaped abrading element 29. The abrading element 29 is of one piece with a downwardly extending lever 30 and extends radially with reference to the surface portion 16. It is provided in the illustrated embodiment with an abrading surface 31 of arcuate configuration, here configurated as a section of a cylinder of circular cross section whose axis coincides with the pivot axis 28. Preferably the abrading surface 31 is smooth, but it can also be otherwise configurated. The element 29 may consist of various different materials, for instance steel or another metal.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the surface portion 16 is configurated as a surface of rotation whose axis coincides with the axis of rotation of the spindle portion 13 and whose generatrix is an arc the center of which coincides with the pivot axis 26, so that there exists between the abrading surface 31 and the juxtaposed portion of the surface per tions 16 a gap of constant width; by lifting the lever in the direction of the arrow B the abrading element 29 can be pivoted out of the region of the spindle portion 13, that is to be withdrawn from the concavity defined by the surface portion 16. When this is done, the portion 13 may be upwardly withdrawn from the portion 11 of the spindle, and clearly the abrading element 29 thus has the additional function of preventing undesired separation of the spindle portion 13 from the spindle portion 11 and eliminating the necessity for separate means which is otherwise provided for this purpose in textile machines.

The operation of the device illustrated and described thus far with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 will be clear. The abrading element 29 is normally in the position shown in FIG. 1, unless the lever 30 is manually raised. In the illustrated position the abrading surface 31 is slightly spaced from the juxtaposed portion of the surface 16 which it cannot contact. However, when terminal convolutions of the thread portion 24 are on the surface 16, then rotation of the spindle portion 13 during formation of a new package 23 on the carrier 22 causes the terminal convolutions to constantly rub against and become abraded by the abrading surface 31. After this has taken place for some time, the terminal convolutions are completely disintegrated. Because the pressure required for the contact between the abrading surface 31 and the terminal convolutions can be very low, it does not in any way effect the normal rotation of the spindle portion 13, and therefore has no influence upon the normal formation of a package 23.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to that of FIGS. 1 and 2. It differs from it only in the configuration of the surface portion 16', where the generatrix will be seen to be upwardly straight from the location 32 of smallest diameter, whereas downwardlyspeaking in both cases with reference to the orientation of FIG. 3 on the drawing-the generatrix is arcuate. Thus, the upper annular portion 33 of the surface portion 16' tapers conically towards the region 32 of smallest diameter whereas the annular portion 34 arcuately diverges downwardly and radially outwardly from the region 32.

The embodiment illustrated in'FIGS. 4 and 5, finally, shows that advantageously the abrading arrangement may be arranged at the upper side of a housing which protects the drive mechanism for the spindle. Such housings are not always present, but they are frequently present for instance where spindles are driven by a tangential belt drive. FIG. 4 shows only a portion of the spindle, namely a portion of the upper rotatable spindle portion 39. The whorl 40 is located in a protective housing 41 which is partially illustrated, with a nonillustrated tangential drive belt normally pressing against the whorl 40 for motion transmitting purposes. The housing 41 has a cover 42 which may normally consist of sheet metal and which is secured as by screws or the like to the fragmentarily illustrated back wall 43. The upper side of the cover 42 is provided with a rail 44, for instance of sheet material, which is provided with slots 45 through which screws 46 penetrate through a shaft which is provided with a portionlocated within the confines of the slots 45of cylindrical configuration. The rail 44 extends along a row of spindles (one shown) and tangentially to the surface portions thereof (compare FIG. 4). A mounting screw 47 (see FIG. 5) secures the rail 44 to the cover 42 against shifting with reference to the latter.

The rail 44 is of plate-shaped configuration and provided with a plurality of abrading devices 49 which are spaced from one another at distances corresponding to the center distances between adjacent textile spindles of the row of spindles. The abrading devices 49 may be secured to the rail in suitable manner, for instance by spot welding or in other manner; they are each associated with one spindle. The cover 42 is provided with a plurality of openings 54, one for each spindle, through which the respective upper rotatable portion of the spindle extends upwardly. It should be mentioned that it is also possible to make the abrading devices 49 of one piece with the rail 44, for instance by punching portions of the devices out of the rail and bending them to desired orientation with reference to the latter.

Each of the devices 49 is provided with a plate-shaped element 51 which extends radially with reference to the surface portion 50 of the associated spindle and is provided with an abrading surface 52 juxtaposed with a small spacing with the respective surface portion 50. The contour of the abrading surface 52 corresponds to the contour of the juxtaposed surface portion 50 (see FIG. 4), that is it complements the same in such a manner that a gap of constant width exists between them. Again, the width of this gap is selected in accordance with the earlier described considerations, but always in such a manner that the terminal thread convolutions are gradually abraded and worn through as the respective spindle rotates.

In this as in the preceding embodiments the respective abrading device 49 serves the additional function of preventing an upward withdrawal of the rotatable spindle portion from the stationary spindle portion, by extending into the inwardly recessed surface portion 50. The elements 51 are normally in the illustrated position and fast with the cover 52. If in this embodiment an upper portion of the spindle is to be upwardly withdrawn from the associated lower spindle portion, the screw 47 is removed so that the rail 44 can be moved left (see FIG. 5) to such an extent that all ofthe elements 51 of the respective devices 49 are withdrawn outwardly of the concavities defined by the respective surface portions 50. To bring the devices 49 again to operative position, after the upper rotatable portions of all spindles are again in place, the rail 44 is again shifted to its normal position illustrated in FIG. 5 and the screw 47 is secured. In the operative position the abrading surface 52 of FIGS. 4 and 5as is also true of the abrading surface 31 in the preceding Figures-extends in axial direction of the respective rotatable spindle portion, that is in the direction of the axis of rotation thereof.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a textile machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. In a textile machine, in combination, at least one spindle comprising a stationary first portion and a second portion adapted to support a package carrier and rotatable about an axis with reference to said first portion as well as withdrawable from said first portion in direction of said axis, said second portion including a concave annular surface portion surrounding said axis and having a predetermined contour; winding means for winding a thread onto said carrier to form thereon a package of desired size, and for thereupon winding a plurality of terminal convolutions onto said second portion prior to removal of said carrier and package therefrom and severing of said thread intermediate said package and said terminal convolutions; and abrading means comprising an abrading ele ment having an abrading surface juxtaposed with said surface portion and having a contour complementary to said predetermined contour, for abrading and wearing through said terminal convolutions for removal of the same in response to rotation of said second portion during winding of thread onto a new carrier, said abrading element being movable outwardly of said axis between an operative position in which it extends into the concavity of said surface portion and prevents withdrawal of said second portion from said first portion while engaging terminal convolutions on said surface portion, and an inoperative position in which it is withdrawn outwardly of said concavity.

2. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading surface is uninterrupted.

3. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading surface is constituted by a blunt edge of said abrading element.

4. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading element is plate-shaped.

5. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading element is oriented radially with reference to said annular surface section and said axis of rotation.

6. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said annular surface portion is concentric with said axis of rotation and concave in longitudinal direction of the latter.

7. In a textile machine as defined in claim 6, wherein the generatrix of said annular surface portion is at least in part arcuately curved.

8. In a textile machine as defined in claim 6, said annular surface portion comprising an annular section tapering lengthwise of said axis of rotation towards a region of smallest diameter of said annular surface portion.

9. In a textile machine as defined in claim 8, wherein said annular section extends to said region of smallest diameter.

10. In a textile machine as defined in claim 6, said annular surface section comprising a first annular part tapering lengthwise of said axis of rotation towards a region of smallest diameter of said annular surface portion, and a second part axially adjacent to and extend from said first annular part in direction lengthwise of said axis of rotation and being arcuate- 1y curved in said direction.

11. In a textile machine as defined in claim I, wherein said abrading element is movable between said first and second positions in a plane radially of said axis of rotation.

12. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading element is movable between said first and second positions in direction tangentially of said axis and said annular surface portion.

13. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional spindle similar to the first-mentioned spindle, at least one additional abrading element similar to the first-mentioned element and associated with said additional spindle, and a mounting rail mounting said abrading elements for movement relative to the respectively associated spindles between said first and second positions.

14. In a textile machine as defined in claim 13, further comprising a spindle drive for rotating said spindles, and a cover for covering said spindle drive and having an at least substantially horizontal cover portion; and wherein said mounting rail is secured to said cover portion.

15. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading element is tiltable for movement between said first and second positions.

16. In a textile machine as defined in claim 15, said abrading element being tiltable about a pivot axis extending transversely of said axis of rotation, said abrading surface being at least in part of arcuate configuration and having a center located on a line intersecting said pivot axis. 

1. In a textile machine, in combination, at least one spindle comprising a stationary first portion and a second portion adapted to support a package carrier and rotatable about an axis with reference to said first portion as well as withdrawable from said first portion in direction of said axis, said second portion including a concave annular surface portion surrounding said axis and having a predetermined contour; winding means for winding a thread onto said carrier to form thereon a package of desired size, and for thereupon winding a plurality of terminal convolutions onto said second portion prior to removal of said carrier and package therefrom and severing of said thread intermediate said package and said terminal convolutions; and abrading means comprising an abrading element having an abrading surface juxtaposed with said surface portion and having a contour complementary to said predetermined contour, for abrading and wearing through said terminal convolutions for removal of the same in response to rotation of said second portion during winding of thread onto a new carrier, said abrading element being movable outwardly of said axis between an operative position in which it extends into the concavity of said surface portion and prevents withdrawal of said second portion from said first portion while engaging terminal convolutions on said surface portion, and an inoperative position in which it is withdrawn outwardly of said concavity.
 2. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading surface is uninterrupted.
 3. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading surface is constituted by a blunt edge of said abrading element.
 4. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading element is plate-shaped.
 5. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading element is oriented radially with reference to said annular surface section and said axis of rotation.
 6. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said annular surface portion is concentric with said axis of rotation and concave in longitudinal direction of the latter.
 7. In a textile machine as defined in claim 6, wherein the generatrix of said Annular surface portion is at least in part arcuately curved.
 8. In a textile machine as defined in claim 6, said annular surface portion comprising an annular section tapering lengthwise of said axis of rotation towards a region of smallest diameter of said annular surface portion.
 9. In a textile machine as defined in claim 8, wherein said annular section extends to said region of smallest diameter.
 10. In a textile machine as defined in claim 6, said annular surface section comprising a first annular part tapering lengthwise of said axis of rotation towards a region of smallest diameter of said annular surface portion, and a second annular part axially adjacent to and extend from said first annular part in direction lengthwise of said axis of rotation and being arcuately curved in said direction.
 11. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading element is movable between said first and second positions in a plane radially of said axis of rotation.
 12. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading element is movable between said first and second positions in direction tangentially of said axis and said annular surface portion.
 13. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional spindle similar to the first-mentioned spindle, at least one additional abrading element similar to the first-mentioned element and associated with said additional spindle, and a mounting rail mounting said abrading elements for movement relative to the respectively associated spindles between said first and second positions.
 14. In a textile machine as defined in claim 13; further comprising a spindle drive for rotating said spindles, and a cover for covering said spindle drive and having an at least substantially horizontal cover portion; and wherein said mounting rail is secured to said cover portion.
 15. In a textile machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said abrading element is tiltable for movement between said first and second positions.
 16. In a textile machine as defined in claim 15, said abrading element being tiltable about a pivot axis extending transversely of said axis of rotation, said abrading surface being at least in part of arcuate configuration and having a center located on a line intersecting said pivot axis. 